Magnetic switch



Sept. 11, 1928.

H. D. JAMES MAGNETIC SWITCH Filed March 1, 1923 WITNESSES:

r Dwmes AT'TORNEY Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED-LSTATES PATENT OFFlCE.

Haunt 1). .mnnsyornnenwoon rABK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR ro WESTING-'HOUSE'ELECIRIQ & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or PENNSYL- VANIA.

MAGNETIC SWITCH.

-.- Application filed March 1, 1923. Serial No. 622,048.

; .iMy invention relates to control apparatus and ithas-particularirelation to electromagtact members of a type similar tothe main contactiimcmbers and-arranged for operation in circuits?parallel to; a circuit through the main contact members. They-switchstructure is such that, when opening, the contact .member's-iariisuccessively separated and the circuitfinally interrupted in the lieldof a magnetic blow-out device.

My invention will be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawing in which the single figure is a view, in side elevation, ofapparatus embodying my invention.

A stationary electromagnet comprises a core 1 upon which is mounted acoil 2. A

frame 3 sup orts the core 1 and also a bearing, or shaii: 4;, upon whichis pivotally mounted an armature member 5. A movable contact member 6 ispivotally mounted on a bearing 7 that is carried by the armature 5, thecontact member 6 being biased toward a stationary contact member 8 bymeans of a spring 9. Arcing tips 11 and 12 are provided for theremovable and stationary contact members 6 and 8, respectively. In thenormal or inoperative position of armature a. stop member 13, which iscarried by the armature, engages a boss 14 that is formed on a portionof the frame 3, and, in this (position, arcing tips 11 and 12 areseparate An auxiliary shaft 15 is also carried by armature 5, the axisof this shaft being parallel to that of shaft 7. Movable contact members16 and 17 are mounted on shaft 15 and are biased by means of a spring 18toward a pair of stationary contact members 19 and 21, respectively. Forconvenience, the rotative movement of members 16 and 17 about the shaft15 is restricted by means of stop pins 22 and 23.

In the open position of the contactor, movable contact members 16 and 17are respectively disengaged from stationary members 19 and 21. Duringthe opening movement of armature 5, the last named movable contactmembers are disengaged prior to the disengagement-of arcing tips 11and-12. I he :contactor is providedwith a blow-out magnet having a coil24 and pole-pieces 25 of familiar form. The apparatus :is bolted to aninsulating base 26 and provided with current-carrying studs 27 and 28.

(urrent may be supplied throu h stud 2T. plow-out coil 24, stationarymember 8, 'arcpug tips 12 and 11, a flexible shunt 29 and irame 3 tostud 28. Aparallel current path isprovided from stud 27 throughcontactmembers 19 and 16, flexible shunt 31, contact members 17 and 21and frame 3 to stud Any number of pairs of'contact members may bemounted on shaft 15 on both sides of the armature 5 so that a number ofparallel paths may be provided through the contacter. Shaft 15 ispreferably located adjacent to the armature shaft 1 at such a distancethat a minimum of power is required to operate the contactor. Thisarrangement is possible because a short break or opening is sufficientbetween the auxiliary contact members 16, 17, 19 and 21. The totalcurrent traversing the contactor is momentarily carried through arcingtips 11 and 12, when the contactor is being opened, and the are isruptured between these tips. Y

It is apparent from an inspection of the drawing that all thecontact-members are of a rolling type that is preferred for controllingcircuits and apparatus of high-current capacity. The auxiliary contactmembers, since they are not required to interrupt a circuit but are onlyto maintain it, preferably have relatively small movements with respectto shafts l5 and 4. The contact members may, therefore, be actuatedunder very high contact-pressure, with correspondingly high-currentcapacity. \Vith an arrangement according to my invention, current isreadily interrupted through a single pair of main switch members, and asingle blow-out magnet only is required.

A contactor of the type herein described occupies less space than isnecessary for known contactors of similar capacity and is arranged torequire a relatively small operating magnet. My invention is describedand illustrated in its preferred form but modifications may readily bemade withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. A contactor comprising a movable and a stationary contact member andoperating means therefor, a pair of oppositely-extendingi auxiliarystationary members, and a pair of auxiliary members pivotally mountedsolely on the'movable member for bridging the auxiliary stationarymembers.

2. A c ontactor comprim'ng a stationary electro-magnet and an armaturetherefor, a shaft' carried by the armature, a contact member mounted foroscillatory movement on the-shaft, an auxiliary shaft carried by saidarmature in parallel relation to the first-named shaft, and apa'ir ofcontact members mounted solely on said auxiliary shaft to oscillateoppositely with respect to one another. 1

3. A eontactor comprising a stationary electro-magnet and an armaturetherefor, a

extending, contact members mounted solely on said auxiliary shaft andcapable of different relative movements.

4. A contactor comprising a stationary electro-magnet. and an armaturetherefor, a shaft carried by the armature, a. contact member mounted foroscillatory movement on the shaft, an auxiliary shaft carried by saidarmature in parallel relation to the first-named shaft, a par of contactmembers mounted solely on said auxiliary shaft and a spring for biasingsaid pair of members oppositely.

5. A contactor comprising a plurality of stationary contact members, apivotally mounted armature, and a plurality of oppositely-extendingpivotally mounted contact members carried solely by the armature forsuccessively engaging the respective stationary members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 16th dayof February, 1923.

HENRY D. J AMEQ.

